Knitting machine



June 5, 1951 2,555,870

P. W. BRISTOW KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 18 Sheets-Sheet l June 5, 195] P. w. ems-row KNITTING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 18, 1945 June 1951 I P. w. ems-row 2,5 ,370

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 18 Sheets-Sheet '7 M VENI'GI? P. W. BRISTOW KNITTING MACHINE June 5, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 18, 1945 June 5, 1951 I P. w. Ems-row 2,555,870

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 18 Sheets-Sheet l5 P. W. BRISTOW KNITTING MACHINE June 5, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Dec. 18, 1945 Rwy June 5, 1951 P. w. BRISTOW 2,555,870

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 18 Sheets-Sheet l7 J42 uunnuuu 590 Z nuunnu p 558 W 554 52 figgfiagz 0 III June 5, 1951 P. w. BRIVSTOW 2, 7

KNITTING MACHINE Ffiled Dec. 18, 1945 l8 Sheets-Sheet 1s Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 2,555,370 KNITTING MACHINE Application December 18, 1945, Serial No. 635,644

39 Claims.

This invention-relates to a knitting method and machine, and has particular reference to the type of machine comprising superposed needle cylinders and means for effecting panel wrapping therein, although it will be understood that certain features of the invention are not limited to this type'ofma'chirie. I

One of the general objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved wrapping mechanisminvolving the handling of wrap yarns so as to secure better plating of the wrap yarns in the fabric. In connection with this object of the invention, an improved construction of wraphead is provided, including, among other features, the provision of a dial for properly loeating thelo'wer ends of wrap fingerswhich carry the wrap yarns across the needle circle.

same time there'is insured rigidity of construction and proper location of the wrap yarn carriers when they are returned to their active position's. To improve the nature of the Wrapping,

an improved stationary wraphorn is provided carried by a stationary sleeve within the upper needle cylinder.

For the purpose of providing improved interlacing in the formation of Wrappeddesigns, the upper needle cylinder is provided with movablewalls arranged to cooperate with the wrap yarns in the wrapping operation to insure that those needles which do not take the yarns will pass outwardly of the yarns in the interlacing action.

Besides the movable walls 'functioning'as above, there are provided other movable walls which carry verge bits for the purpose of cooperating with the needles knitting in the upper cylinder in forming loops.

Figure 3' is'a'n axial section illustrating par-' ticularly the wrap-head;

Figure 4-. is a fragmentary elevation of the lower end of a Wrap yarn guide and the means for maintaining its normal position when it is inactive;

Figure 5 is a view showing in plan the means for positioning the lower end of a Wrap yarn guide, one of which is illustrated in section;

Figure 6 is an axial section showing the needles and the parts in the vicinity thereof and directly cooperating therewith;

Figure '7 is an elevation showing in particular the wrap head and the manner in which it is raised and positioned for threading;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the means for latching the heel and toe pocket pusher in inactive position;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the same;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the means for aligning the wrap head assembly;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing in particular the needle selecting means and the wrap yarn guide controlling means;

Figure 13 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the wrap yarn guide controlling means;

Figure 14 is a horizontal section showing the needle selecting means;

Figure 15 is a perspective view showing a needle jack and thecams for selecting the same;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary elevation of the needle selecting means;

Figure 1'7 is'a perspective view of the same;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary elevation of the same; V

Figures 19 and 20 are elevations of the controlling cams for the needle selecting means;

Figure 21 is an elevation of a stocking produced by the machine;

Figure 22 is a perspective view showing in particular the abutment for the wrap yarn guide and the lowering pick and the means for controlling the same;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary plan view showing the yielding action of the abutment;

Figure 24 is a perspective view illustratingithe beginning of a wrapping operation and the initial engagement of a wrap yarn guide with the abutment;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary plan View of the same event;

Figure 26 is a perspective view similar to Figure 24 but showing a later event in the-needle wrapping operation;

Figure 2'7 is a fragmentary plan view of the last mentioned matter;

Figure 28 is a further view similar to Figure 24 but showing the completion of a needle wrapping operation;

Figure 29 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts in the condition of Figure 28;

Figure 30 is a perspective view and Figure 31 is an elevation, partly broken away, of certain elements cooperating with the wrap yarns and the fabric;

Figures 32 to 36, inclusive, are perspective views illustrating the functions of the elements of Figures 30 and 31;

Figure 37 is a diagrammatic view illustrating controlling means for the lowering picker;

Figures 38 and 39 are further perspective views of the same;

Figure 40 is a perspective sectional view of the pusher for the heel and toe pockets illustrating its action;

Figure 41 is a section showing the form of the pusher;

Figures 42 and 43 are diagrams illustrating certain pattern formations achieved by the machine;

Figure 44 is a developed view of the cams looking, in general, outwardly from the axis of rotation, and showing at the right thereof a needle and cooperating elements;

Figures 45 to 49, inclusive, are developed views of the needle controlling cams looking outwardly from the axis of rotation of the cylinders;

Figure is a diagrammatic plan view showing the sinker movements in the machine; and

Figure 51 is a partial development of the sinker cams.

r The knitting machine embodying the inventions indicated above is of the superposed cylinder type comprising a lower cylinder 2 and an upper cylinder 3. Arranged to slide in slots in the lower cylinder are sliders 4 adapted to engage the lower hooks of double hook latch needles 6, the upper hooks of which are engageable by sliders 3 in the upper cylinder.

The lower sliders 3 are provided with butts at two levels 18 and I2 as hereafter more fully described and, in addition, with saw tooth butts i4 arranged to provide for selection by suitable cams. The upper sliders 8 are provided with butts at two levels l6 and H3. The cylinders are preferably provided with inserted fixed walls to define the slots for reception of the sliders and these walls 20 in the case of the upper cylinder terminate substantially above its lower end so that the lower portions of the slider slots are bounded not by stationary walls but by movable walls or two alternative forms arranged to slide in the wall slots in the upper cylinder. One set of these indicated at 22 carries butts 26 (see Figure 32) and are provided with outwardly and downwardly sloping lower ends as indicated most clearly at 38 in Figure 24. The other slidable walls indicated at 24 are provided with butts 28 and have verge bit extensions such as indicated at 32 in Figure 24. The arrangement and functions of these lower ends 36 and the verge bits 32 will be hereafter described. The

verge bits are located between the positions of needles which, in the formation of broad ribs, are located in the upper cylinder.

- The cylinders are rotated in unison through the medium of a vertical shaft as which, through gearing indicated at 36 (Figure 2), is driven by the lower cylinder and which, through gearing indicated. at 413 and 32, drives the upper cylinder. The present machine additionally involves the driving of a wrapping assembly which is effected through gears 44 and 46, the former being carried by the shaft 34.

Arranged to cooperate with the needles are arcuate sinkers d8 which are provided with butts 5!! arranged to be acted upon by stationary cams 52 and 53 (see Figures 6 and 51) supported by a stationary cylinder 55 inside the lower rotating cylinder. This stationary cylinder 55 also supports the fabric guiding tube 59.

The rotary support for the wrap yarn carrying means is indicated generally at 53 (Figure 3). It is secured to the gear db and includes a member provided with an annular groove fit, in which groove are receivable the rounded pivotforming projections 52 of wrap yarn carriers 34 surrounded by a spring band 86. Each of the wrap yarn carriers 64 has an upper extension 58 receivable in a notch if) in an individual slider 72. These sliders T2 are provided with slots arranged so that they may embrace an annular ring E i carried by the support 58. In order to guide the sliders 12 for radial movement and to position them in fixed circumferential locations they are received in slots it in the support 53.

Each of the sliders is provided with a plurality of butts 13 indicated in the present instance as three in vnumber. As will be evident hereafter, these butts may be selectively broken away so as to provide selection in the operation of the wrap yarn carriers.

Each of the wrap yarn carriers 64 is provided with a downward extension 78 extending through the upper cylinder and guided at its upper end in a radial slot 86 in the support 53. Individual springs 82 serve to urge the lower ends of the wrap yarn carriers inwardly. Butts 84 are provided on the wrap yarn guides to provide for the positive inward movements of their lower ends.

At its lower end each wrap yarn carrier is provided with a radially directed extension 85 which has a downwardly extending branch 87 provided with the yarn guiding openings 38. The downwardly extending branches 8! are provided with smooth lower inner edge portions arranged to cam the wrap yarn downwardly as the wrap yarn finger or carrier is withdrawn inwardly following a wrapping movement. Beyond these openings each carrier is provided with an abutment-em gaging extension 90. i

A tube 92, the upper end of which is secured in the assembly 58, carries at its lower end a disc 94 which is provided with radial fins 5%, the upper edges of which are turned, as indicated at 98, in a clockwise direction as viewed in the plan view constituting Figure 5. These edges 9% provide rests for the purpose of definitely positioning the lower ends of the warp yarn guides which are flexed in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 in order to insure normal engagepusher I04 provided with rounded fingers IRS.

The rotating warp yarn'carrying assembly in- 

